Antiskid tire chain



M124, 194s. VERLINE '2,436,715

ANTISKID TIRE CHAIN Filed March 8, 1945 george feriz'ze Suma/nm MMQLMMPatented Feb. 24,Y 1948 UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE George Everline,Hagerstown, Md.

Application March 8, 1945, Serial No. 581,574

This invention relates to anti-skid tire chains.

An object of this invention is to provide an anti-skid chain whichembodies two circular side chains and connecting cross or tread chains,one of the side chains being contractable from a diameter larger thanthe other side chain to a diameter equal to the diameter of the otherside chain, the contracting portion of the large diameter side chainforming one of the cross chains.

Another object of this invention is to provide an anti-skid chain whichcan be easily and quickly applied or removed, without making itnecessary to lie on the ground under the car in order to have access tothe inner side chain with both hands to clamp the ends together, as inother types of chains.

A further object of this invention is to provide in an anti-skid chainof this kind an improved latching means for latching the adjustablecross chain, the latching means being slidable through a loop or eyecarried by the large side chain and including a loop constituting ahandle whereby the adjustable cross chain will be held againstseparation from the eye.

To the foregoing objects and others which may hereinafter more fullyappear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combinationand arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically referred to andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understoodthat changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to whichfall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation, partly diagrammatic, of ananti-skid chain constructed according to an embodiment of thisinvention, showing the chain in expanded position.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan View of the chain in applied position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentarysectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Figure2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure2.

Referring tothe drawing, the numeral IIJ desig nates generally acircular side chain, which is preferably the outer side chain, beingformed of connected links with no opening, and the chain I has securedthereto a plurality or" cross chains II.

An inner side chain generally designated as I2 is connected to theopposite ends of the cross chains II, and the inner side chain I2 in its1 Claim. (Cl. 152-242) expanded position is of greater diameter than`the outer side chain I0 so that the inner side chain I2 may be readilypassed over the tread of the tire for positioning on the inner sidethereof.

In order to provide a means whereby the inner side chain may becontracted so as to tighten the cross chains I I over the tread of thetire, the

inner chain I2 is formed of an elongated chain I3'which is substantiallygreater than a semicircle, and the chain I3 at =one end thereof hassecured thereto an eye or loop I4. The eye or loop I4 is of sufcientsize that the cross chain section I5 may readily slip therethrough. Thecross chain section I5 completes the large diameter circle formed by thechain I3 and the chain I5, and is secured at one end to a connectorgenerally designated as I 6.

The connector I 6 is formed of a bent -bar having arms I'l andV I8 whichare disposed on an obtuse angle relative to each other, and arm I'I isformed with an eye I9, engaging the adjacent end of chain I3. Arm I8 isformed with an eye 20 with which one end of the combined cross and sidechain section I5 is connected.

The combined cross and side chain I5 has secured to the opposite endthereof a latching hook, generally designated as 2 I. The latching hook2I comprises a bill 22 formed integral with a corrugated shank 23, andthe free end of bill 22 is bent inwardly toward shank 23. The shank 23is corrugated so that side chain I5 may be expanded to its maximum andhook 2| may freely slip through loop I4 without bill 22 catchingthereon. The shank 23 is formed with a loop 24, engaging through the endlink 25 of the combined cross and side chain I5, and the loop 24includes an elongated bar 26 extending parallel with the shank 23. Thelbar 26 has a looped handle 21 formed integral therewith which eX- tendsbeyond the closed end of bill 22, so that when bill 22 is engaged with alink of side chain I0, the looped handle 21 will project a shortdistance beyond the side chain.

The loop or eye I4 is formed from an elongated bar, having a relativelythick portion 28 and reduced diameter converging sides 29 and 30extending from the thick or`closed end portion 28. The converging sides29 and 30 are formed with reverted link forming hooks 3l and 32,respectively, which are adaptedto engage the adjacent end link 33 ofchain section I3. The loop or eye I4 is of suicient size that thelatching hook 2| may readily pass therethrough, but the looped handle 21is sutliciently large in diameter or size so that when the latchingmeans 2l is released from outer side chain I0, the eye or handle 21 Willlimit the expansion of the inner side chain and hold the ends of theinner side chain together.

In the application of this anti-skid chain the inner side chain isexpanded and extended over the tire at an angle. The wheel may then berolled in either direction for either a complete turn of the Wheel, or apartial turn, so that that portionrofside :I'S'iwhicii was at the"bottommay beeextended over *the tire. The handle or loop 21 is then pulled soas to draw chain section Y I5 through the loop or eye I4 and across thetread of the tire. The chain I5 is pulled untilthe lconnector I6 is inengagement with eye I4, as shown in Figure 2.

Connector I6 by reason of itssubstantiallyright angular constructionwill lock into loop or eye I4, and chain section I 5 at this time is:extended transversely over the ,tread of the tire. Bill 22 vof thelatching means `is then-engaged with an adjacent lin-k of the Qouterside chain, hooking over one side-of ithelink .and resiliently lockingAthe latchingcmeans .to .theouter side chain I0 The pulling of the chaint5 through the eye I4 w will Avtightlyfbind all oftheicross :chains overthe tread of -the tire and will tattile-same time tighten the outer:side chain-ld against the outer face or ,side .of `the ftire.

it is therefore requested that the scope of the invention should beregarded as limited only by the terms of the claim.

What is claimed is:

An anti-skid chain comprising a pair of side chains and a plurality ofcross chains, one of said side chains being of complete circularformation and the other side chain being split and in unwappliedposition forming a circle greater than the vcircieof saidonesidesaidsother side chain 'including a loop at one end "through `which theother end thereof is freely slidable, said other side Chain alsoincluding a right angle link inwardly vfrom the other end thereofadapted when the chain is in applied position to project partly'throughsaid-loop whereby a short portion of said other `chain maybeextended as a cross chain over the tire, tread, a latching hook carriedby said otherend of said otherchain, an elongated shank integral withand extending parallel With the back of v'said hook, said :shankterminating" in a .large loop `beyond said-hook, said latter loopffbeing larger than k,said first loopwhereby 'the ends of .said otherchain willbe held 4against .separation when the device "is unapplied,said 'hook being releasably engageable Withfarlink of :saidfone sidechain.

GEORGE EVERLINE.

REFERENCES CITED kThe following references are of record in the le ofthis patent'.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 411,857 F. E. DeLong Oct` vl,1889 502,529 H..S. -Piggins Aug. 1 1893 533,385 A. Tweedale Jan. 29,1895 0 1,672,019 Barber June 5, 1928 2,059,10@ Green 0013527, 1936

